10TH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN ŁÓDŹ 07/03/2011

Once again, Fotofestiwal opens space for discussion about photography. If you want to look for inspiration, meet interesting people and learn about the newest discoveries in contemporary photography, visit Łódź between 5 and 15 May 2011. This year, Fotofestiwal offers two curator exhibitions, an urban space exhibition, several individual exhibitions, a review of photo schools and, most of all, various accompanying events and an amazing atmosphere of a creative meeting.

The central point of Fotofestiwal 2011 will be the two Main Programme exhibitions: OUT OF LIFE and OUT OF MIND. We have invited Celina Lunsford, Nina Kassianou and Krzysztof Candrowicz to interpret these themes. Both exhibitions are born of interest in people and their relations with contemporary world, society and themselves. They will tell us about the function and ways of creating alternative realities. They will also discuss boundaries which we create between the reality and our creations.

Celina Lunsford, the curator of the exhibition, explains that OUT OF MIND can make us change the way in which we perceive ourselves. The key to understanding the exhibition lies in such notions as ‘obsession’, ‘illusion’ and ‘fantasy’. All 12 presented projects share a common theme of identity and an unusual way of depicting reality. This exhibition will include works of photographers such as: Erwin Olaf and Levi van Veluw. The OUT OF LIFE exhibition, in turn, is a sociological study in which artists and curators touch upon the issues of alienation, loneliness and escape.

Levi van Veluw, Ballpoints, FF2011, Out Of Mind
Levi van Veluw, Ballpoints, FF2011, Out Of Mind

This year, the Grand Prix Programme, entitled OUT OF SPACE, is an exhibition which uses urban space as a gallery. For 10 festival days, Łódź will transform into an outdoor gallery which will show works created by 11 artists from all around the world.

Accompanying exhibitions will include several amazing photo premieres, including the most important one – the newest project by Alexey Titarenko, prepared in Łódź for the Atlas Sztuki gallery. The Russian artist’s poetic vision of the city will stand in contrast with a documentary exhibition entitled Energy of Time. Dalkia Archive, shown in public for the first time. It is a set of photos taken in Łódź in 1922-1940, which document dynamic development of the city and reconstruction of the Łódź power plant.

The programme will also include another edition of the Factory of Photography – a review of schools of photography, this year including new foreign schools. The portfolio review will include, above all, photo editors, curators and publishers from entire Europe. Slide presentations have been prepared in collaboration with editors of such online magazines on photography as: 1000 Words Magazine, Lapsus Magazine and Poncz Magazine. Each year, slideshows are created especially for Fotofestiwal – a combination of perfect selection of works by the curators and carefully picked music results in unique presentations.

Ervin Olaf, Dawn - the Soldier, FF2011, Out of Mind
Erwin Olaf, Dawn – the Soldier, FF2011, Out of Mind

Let us not forget about photowalks, workshops, educational programme for children and teenagers, and competitions. And, most importantly, let us not forget about the jubilee – this year, Fotofestiwal turns 10 years old. Join us for a sentimental night of memories, anecdotes and old photo albums.